Egerton-Green on fire

Outstanding young reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green has struck a purple patch with eight winners in the space of five days and he is looking forward to driving Bletchley Park from the coveted No. 1 barrier in what should prove to be an enthralling duel with superstar Chicago Bull in the 2130m Zippay It At Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

In a significant decision, Egerton-Green opted to handle the Stephen Reed-trained four-year-old Bletchley Park ahead of the Murray Lindau-trained Chiaroscuro, who has been placed twice behind Chicago Bull at his past three starts.

Egerton-Green has been the regular driver of Chiaroscuro, having handled him at 53 of his 61 starts for 14 of his 15 wins. He has driven Bletchley Park five times for three wins, a second and a third.

“I’ll be sticking with Bletchley Park from the draw,” said Egerton-Green. “We will be looking to lead early, and I’ll be leaving it up to Stephen regarding our tactics after that. Bletchley Park is a really nice horse and he trialled really good leading up to this race.”

Reed drove Bletchley Park in a 2100m trial at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park last Saturday week when the American Ideal stallion set the pace and won the trial by 23 lengths from Ainsworth, rating 1.55.5, with final quarters of 29.1sec., 29sec., 27.9sec. and 28.7sec.

Champion trainer Gary Hall Snr said that Chicago Bull, from the outside barrier in the field of six, would be tested by Bletchley Park. “Chicago Bull probably will race in the breeze, with Bletchley Park leading,” he said. “Convert Denario (barrier two) probably will put a bit of pressure on Bletchley Park, and then we’ll slide into it.”

Egerton-Green has driven 97 winners this season and his recent golden streak began at Gloucester Park when he was successful with Machs Gold and Mandy Joan. At Northam the following night he won with Brewery Lane and Newsletter, and at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon he won the opening three events with Sixth Edition, In The Valley and Newsy. His growing band of followers cashed in at Gloucester Park late on Tuesday afternoon when he won the opening event with Make It Quick, who paid $28.10 on the tote and was at $31 on the fixed market.

 Asked to reveal his secret of success, Egerton-Green replied: “Good luck; a few drivers have been suspended and I was able to capitalise on that.

“Winning on a Friday night is always very pleasing and some of the highlights of those recent eight winners included Sixth Edition, a filly trained by Sarah Suvaljko who led and won at Pinjarra. It had been a big process to get the filly to the races.

“Every win has its own sentimental value. It was great to win at Northam with Brewery Lane ($20) for trainer Garry Elliott, who had just got out of hospital that day.”

Ken Casellas